Russia intends to keep checkpoint with occupied territories for security reasons – ISW
Russia intends to maintain checkpoints between the Russian Federation and the temporarily occupied territories for security reasons, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
“The existence of these checkpoints further highlights that Russian officials do not view the residents of occupied Ukraine as Russian nationals and are governing as the occupying power they are, despite ongoing claims the illegally annexed territories are part of Russia,” the report reads.
According to Western analysts, as Russian military commanders said, checkpoints significantly slow down the supply of Russian ammunition to the front line in Donetsk region.
“Putin is likely attempting to remedy the delays by expanding staffing to speed up inspections at the checkpoints and is not entertaining the possibility of removing these obstructions,” the Institute notes.
The ISW notes that, by analogy with the strengthening of security measures at the Kerch Bridge, Russia will use a checkpoint with other occupied territories for security reasons. In addition, they will prevent men from temporarily occupied territories from fleeing to Russia from forced mobilization.
